Assessment of present and future nitrogen loads, water quality, and seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) depth distribution in Lemon Bay, Florida |
| |
| Authors: | David A Tomasko Denise L Bristol Judith A Ott |
| |
| Institution: | (1) Tampa Bay Estuary Program, 100 8th Avenue NE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA;(2) Janicki Environmental, Inc., 1155 Eden Isle Drive, NE, St. Petersburg, Florida 33704, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | Nitrogen loads into Lemon Bay, Florida were modeled to have increased ca. 59% between pre-development (i.e., 1850) estimates
(5.3 kg TN ha−1 yr−1. and estimates for the year 1995 (8.4 kg TN ha−1 yr−1). By the year 2010, nitrogen loads are predicted to increase an additional 45% or 58%, depending upon progress being made
toward replacing older septic tank systems with centralized sewerage (nitrogen loads of 12.2 and 13.3 kg TN ha−1 yr−1, respectively). Using 1995 estimates, nonpoint sources (stormwater runoff) are throught to be responsible for ca. 76% of
the annual nitrogen load, followed by septic tank systems (14%), rainfall (10%), and an insignificant load from baseflow.
Based on an empirically-derived nitrogen load:chlorophylla relationship developed for a portion of nearby Tampa Bay, a 45% increase in nitrogen loads into Lemon Bay could result in
a 29% increase in annual average chlorophylla concentrations. Using the estimate of a 29% increase in future chlorophylla concentrations, an empirically-derived optical model for Lemon Bay suggests that light attenuation coefficients in the bay
would increase ca. 9%, and the average depth limit ofThalassia testudinum in Lemon Bay would decrease by ca. 24%. |
| |
| Keywords: | |
| 本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录！ |
|
